Visit South Padre Island Names Veteran Tourism Professional Alex Thomas Chief Tourism Officer

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas, October 1, 2026 — Visit South Padre Island has announced the hiring of Alex Thomas as its new Chief Tourism Officer, bringing more than 30 years of tourism, destination development, cultural programming and special events experience to the organization.

In the newly created senior leadership role, Thomas will help guide destination development, visitor experience, community and stakeholder engagement, special events and strategic tourism initiatives for South Padre Island. He will have a special focus on strengthening relationships with Island businesses and community partners and identifying new opportunities to enhance the visitor experience and increase the economic impact of tourism.

“Alex brings a rare combination of tourism experience, creativity and a genuine understanding of how a destination’s culture, businesses, events and people all come together to create a memorable visitor experience,” said Kelly deSchaun, Chief Executive Officer of Visit South Padre Island. “He has spent his career developing tourism products, building partnerships and finding compelling ways to tell the stories that make destinations distinctive. We are excited to have him bring that experience and energy to South Padre Island as we continue to grow tourism while working closely with the businesses and community that make the Island such a special place.”

A Mississippi native, Thomas most recently served as Product Development Manager for Visit Galveston, where he played a key role in developing and promoting Galveston Island’s cultural and heritage tourism assets. His Texas tourism experience also includes serving as Event Producer for the Emancipation Gospel Celebration and Director of Marketing & Outreach for the Nia Cultural Center.

Before moving to Texas, Thomas built an extensive career in tourism, entertainment and cultural development in Mississippi. He served as the first Music Development Program Director for the Mississippi Development Authority’s Division of Tourism, where he helped showcase the state’s internationally recognized musical heritage through tourism experiences and attractions.

In that role, Thomas oversaw development of the award-winning Mississippi Blues Trail and Mississippi Country Music Trail, initiatives that use historic markers, driving routes and visitor experiences to connect travelers with the people, places and stories that shaped two of America’s most influential musical traditions.

Thomas also has extensive experience developing events as tourism drivers. He developed and produced the Yazoo Music Festival for the Yazoo County Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Jackson Rhythm and Blues Festivalpresented by Visit Jackson, Mississippi. Thomas served as CEO of Blue South Entertainment, LLC, an entertainment agency specializing in talent booking, artist management, consulting and event planning.

“I’m excited to join Visit South Padre Island and become part of a destination with such a strong identity and tremendous opportunity,” said Thomas. “Great tourism destinations are built not only around the places people visit, but around the experiences they have and the stories and people they encounter along the way. I look forward to working with the Visit South Padre Island team, local businesses and community partners to build on what makes the Island unique and create even more reasons for visitors to come, stay longer and return.

Thomas holds a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications from the University of Southern Mississippi. He earned his Travel Marketing Professional (TMP) certification through the Southeast Tourism Society Marketing College and is a Certified Tourism Ambassador (CTA) for Galveston. Thomas has received numerous awards and recognitions, including the Southeast Tourism Society’s Forty for the Future, the Jackson Tourism Visionary Award and the Mississippi Tourism Association’s Excellence in Tourism Award.

Award-Winning Tourism Leader Brings More Than 30 Years of Destination Development, Cultural Tourism and Special Events Experience to the Island